It's been a while since I've started a thread. Here's one that's not earth-shattering, but it might pass the time...

Twenty-one years ago this month, I had to have illeostomy surgery. It was my first operation (except for a chest tube procedure in 1988) and I was very nervous, as was my family. But, it needed to be done, so it was done. I was wheeled into the OR, knocked out, and woke up minus a fair amount of my digestive track. I was very groggy; I noticed three things: I was in an unfamiliar room, my Mom was sitting in front of me, and what I later learned was a nasal-gastric drainage tube had been installed."Mom," I asked, "am I on oxygen?""No, you're not," she answered."So, why the hell have I got this tube in my nose?" I said.My Mom really needed that laugh at that point.